Australiasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine

ACPSEM Office Update – July 2011

Aside from receiving membership invoices, have you been wondering how the ACPSEM is going with its large workload of training and education projects, membership commitments and other supporting activities? This monthly update is designed to bring to the ACPSEM membership a snapshot of the issues and activities that are being addressed or progressed on your behalf.
If you would like further information on any of the matters below, or wish to discuss other aspects of membership, training or continuing professional development, please don’t hesitate to contact the General Manager, Gary Disher on 02 9700 8522.

ACPSEM office Update July 2011

The 2011 summer school on functional imaging in radiotherapy will be run just prior to EPSM 2011 in Darwin on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of August at the Crowne Plaza in Darwin.

While the primary target audience are medical  physic registrars, all ACPSEM members can benefit.

You can also email Amy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or you have further questions.

Summer School Infomation 2011

Summer School Registration Form 2011

ACPSEM summer school 2011: Functional Imaging in Radiation Oncology Program

The President and Council of the ACPSEM wish to extend their congratulations to Lyn Oliver on his achievement of an Order of Australia announced in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Associate Professor Lynne Douglas OLIVER has been recognised with an award (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for service to medical physics in the field of radiation oncology, and through executive roles with the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, and to professional associations.

Lyn began his association with the College in 1975 when he was part of the steering committee to create the Australasian College of Physical Scientists in Medicine – now ACPSEM, the professional organization for Medical Physicists. This was followed by his being appointed as the Inaugural Honorary Secretary, 1978-1982. It wasn’t long afterwards that Lyn became Vice-President, (2002-2003) followed by President (2004-2005) and then Head of Operations from 2006-2007.

 
Registration is now open for the 36th ARPS Conference
Crown Promenade Hotel, Melbourne from 16 - 19 October 2011.
 

REGISTER NOW AT EARLY BIRD PRICES!
Early Bird Registrations are now open until Friday 5 August 2011.

The committee is currently assembling an excellent technical program.
Each day will include keynote and concurrent sessions incorporating elements
of the conference theme 'Risk Perceptions: Safety & Security'.
The program will also include a pre conference workshop and post conference tour to The Australian Synchrotron and ARPANSA.
Please click here for all registration details
and to access the online registration form.
 

THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS HAS BEEN EXTENDED!

Abstract submissions have been extended until 24 June 2011.

Please click here for more details and to download the Call for Abstracts
 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SELLING FAST!

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Be quick to secure your package!

Please click here for more information or contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for a Sponsorship Prospectus
 

We look forward to receiving your abstract submissions
and welcoming you to the 36th ARPS Conference in Melbourne.

For more information please visit the
36th ARPS Conference Website
 

http://www.arpsconference.com.au/2011/

The final RORIC Communiqués from the RORIC meetings of 12 November 2010 and  8 April 2011, both held in Melbourne are now available for viewing.

RORIC Communique 12 November 2010

RORIC Communique 8 April 2011

ESTRO Endorsed Radiobiology Course
Rotorua
30 October – 3 November 2011
Early registration closes 31 July

The aim of the Basic Clinical Radiobiology Course is to provide an introduction to radiation biology as applied to radiotherapy. It will cover the basic mechanisms of cell death/survival and the radiation response of tumours and normal tissues. Formulas of tissue tolerance will be explained. The biological basis for current approaches to the improvement of radiotherapy will be described including novel fractional schemes, retreatment, conformal radiotherapy, modification of hypoxia and combined radiotherapy/ chemotherapy.

This is a highly regarded course which sold out when it ran in Sydney in 2009.

See http://www.nzradbio2011.org/ for more information

As per the invitation from ARPANSA below, the College and the Specialty Groups are interested in providing a profession wide comment to ARPANSA on the currency of three Safety Guides (Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology 2008; Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine 2008; and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy 2008) that supplement the Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation (RPS 14).

You are invited you to submit comments to the Chair of your Specialty Group. These would then be collated to a College response.

Please provide your comments by Wednesday 15 June to your Specialty Chair:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Radiology)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Nuclear Medicine)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (Radiation Oncology)

ARPANSA would like to draw your attention to the current comment period concerning the review of the three Safety Guides (Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology 2008; Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine 2008; and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy 2008) that supplement the Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation (RPS 14).

ARPANSA invites comments on any aspects of these Safety Guides, including the need for improvements in clarity or detail, any provisions that are difficult to put into practice, or instances where better or more up to date advice than that given in the Safety Guides may be more appropriate. Comments should be made via the webpage Review of Safety Guides – Comments before 1 July 2011. ARPANSA also encourages you to let your members know about this request for comment.

The Radiation Health Committee will review comments received and determine whether revision of the Safety Guides is necessary.

 Summer School registration is now open.

To register please return the Summer School Registration Form 2011 to the ACPSEM office.

For more infomation please see Summer School Infomation 2011

On 18 September 2009, the Commonwealth engaged The Allen Consulting Group to provide consultancy services to undertake a review of the Training, Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP) for Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists (ROMPs).

The objective of this consultancy was to inform the Commonwealth, states and territories and the profession on the operation of TEAP since its commencement in 2003 in order to determine whether the current arrangements meet the training needs of the profession. The consultancy also provided advice to potentially assist the preparation of TEAP for accreditation by relevant jurisdictional bodies and other relevant government agencies.

The consultancy has now been completed and the Department has taken delivery of the Final Report from Allen Consulting which provides recommendations for improvement to TEAP and strategies for future development.

For further infomation please see http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-ro-teap-finalreport

The 6th Japan-Korean Joint Meeting on Medical Physics (JKMP)
The 11th Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics (AOCMP)

http://www.jkmp-aocmp2011.org/index.html
September 29 to October 1, 2011 in Fukuoka, Japan
Deadline for abstract/proceeding submission: June 12, 2011

Dear Colleague,
On behalf of Japan Society of Medical Physics, we would like to express our sincere compassion to the victims of the Great Tohoku Earthquake, and we would like to recognize the warm concerns sent from medical physics societies overseas to our society. In spite of the terrible damages the northern region of Japan has suffered, we would like to announce that we have decided to host the 6th Japan-Korea Joint Meeting on Medical Physics and the 11th Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics in the City of Fukuoka, where fortunately there has been no damage from the earthquake. We genuinely hope these meetings will be successful and will become a step to reconstruction.

In the Pre-Congress Course, prominent speakers from all over the world will give educational lectures and special lectures. In the main congress, researchers from Japan, Korea and other Asian countries will discuss about the rapidly progressing field of medical physics. The main topic of the main congress is the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion and radiation in Japan. Experts in nuclear engineering and medical physics will describe the accident that led to damage at the nuclear plant and what the risks are to public health of radiation releases. Themes of the main congress are radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, radiation protection the related topics.

Please be reminded that the deadline for the Joint Congress of 6th JKMP and 11th AOCMP abstract and paper submission is June 12, 2011.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Fukuoka.

Sincerely yours,

Masahiro Endo, Ph.D.
President,
The 6th Japan-Korean Joint Meeting on Medical Physics

Fukai Toyofuku, Ph.D.
Congress Chair, The
11th Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics

Expressions of interest are being sought from medical physics seeking to become accredited in Radiological Physics.

 
EOI will be received up until 5:00pm Sunday 1st May 2011.

Expressions must be accompanied by a non refundable deposit of $55 which will be deducted from the accreditation fee should the application be successful.

Please see the Radiology Physics Accreditation - Candidate's Kit 2011

For further infomation please see https://www.acpsem.org.au/index.php/psb-mainmenu/accreditation-about/radiology-about

This report provides a high level overview of the workforce supply and demand for Victorian medical radiation services over the next 20 years. The medical radiation workforce demand estimates are mainly derived from population ratios, service utilisation and effective infrastructure methods. The projection of workforce supply is based on various data sources and applies a ‘stocks and flows’ methodology. The supply and demand modelling is produced for three streams of medical radiations: radiation oncology, medical imaging and nuclear medicine. Within these streams, nine medical radiation professions are modelled, applying the common assumption of ‘business as usual’ during the projection period (2010–2030). Data regarding current supply and workforce characteristics were collected from a number of sources, including surveys. These were combined with demand data to project required supply.

The modelling also identifies the number of workforce entrants required each year in order to achieve the required supply.

For the full article please read Victorian Medical Radiations Workforce Supply and Demand Projections (2010-2030)

Call for Expressions of Interest for the 2011 Summer School on Functional Imaging

This year the 2011 Summer School will be held in Darwin on the 12th and 13th August. The topic will be Functional Imagining. Places are strictly limited to maintain an interactive atmosphere. Medical physics registrars (of all disciplines) will be given priority but anyone interested in attending should register their interest NOW with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mediaportal Report

21/02/2011
Plucky Olivia still fighting to beat the odds
Canberra Times, 21/02/11, General News, Page 1
By: Ewa Kretowicz

19/02/2011
It’s Operation Re-build
Townsville Bulletin, 19/02/11, General News, Page 10
By: None

Nuclear family opts for Canberra lifestyle
Canberra Times, 19/02/11, General News, Page 8
By: Christopher Knaus

For the full articles please see the Mediaportal Report

They’re a rare breed, but one of them, Dr Howell Round – a senior lecturer in Waikato University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering - has been acknowledged for the work he’s done in training people working in this specialist field, and for his work with the profession’s representative body.

Dr Round has been presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM). ACPSEM used to be an amateur organisation run by volunteers. Their first real office was the old morgue at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, but these days ACPESM owns premises in Sydney, employs eight staff, has a turnover of millions and continues to expand – thanks in a large part to Dr Round.

For the full article please see Australasian award for Waikato physicist

Australasia is facing a severe shortage of medical physicists as the number of cancer cases continues to grow, says a Waikato man at the forefront of training such physicists.

Medical physicist Howell Round, a senior lecturer in Waikato University's faculty of science and engineering, said there were currently 340 clinical medical physicists in Australia and about 64 in New Zealand.

But that was not nearly enough to meet demand.

Medical physicists make sure hi-tech equipment in hospitals is used correctly and safely.

Dr Round was recently acknowledged for his work in helping develop a system called TEAP, when he was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine.

TEAP helps in the education, training and accreditation of medical physicists in clinical practice for Australasia.

When Dr Round started out there was no such prior training – he learnt on the job at Waikato Hospital.

But with demand increasing for medical physicists, about nine years ago Dr Round set about creating the training programme – along with an Australian colleague, John Drew.

The first intake of trainees was in New Zealand in 2003, followed then by Australia.

Six universities are now accredited to do the initial training – mostly for physicists who oversee the installation and safe operation of machines used for treating cancer (radiation oncology).

But it'll be a long time before the shortage is solved.

"There is a real international problem that there are not enough medical physicists, especially in radiation and oncology," Dr Round said.

"The need for cancer services is expanding very quickly because we are coming up against a cancer epidemic, if you like.

"We're finding that the rate at which linear accelerators are being installed to treat the disease is at such a rate we just haven't got the people trained.

"So even after all these years of work... we've still got the same problem."

For the full article please see Shortage of Medical Physicists Concers

THE HON CATHERINE KING MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing
Increased Safeguards for Radiotherapy Treatment

Australian cancer patients and others requiring radiotherapy will have increased safeguards to their treatment with the launch of the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) today – World Cancer Day.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Catherine King, launched the $2.875 million centre operated by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), at its Yallambie Melbourne premises.
ARPANSA will operate the ACDS for an initial period of three years, under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health and Ageing.

Please see the full artice Increased Safeguards for Radiotherapy Treatment for more infomation.

For the latest information on the EPSM-ABEC Conference, including the announcement of the 2011 keynote speakers.

Please see EPSM-ABEC Conference 2011 Newsletter for more infomation.

Exploring New Territory: Innovative Solutions in Medicine and Health Physics
                      
August 2011 will be here before we know it!

That means another EPSM-ABEC conference is fast approaching, and this time it will be THE conference of the year for all medical physicists, clinical engineers, biomedical technicians, radiation safety workers and mining workers to attend. Join us for this first ever Darwin gathering which will be a unique and invigorating event to be held at the dazzling Darwin Convention Centre, NT.

We are proud to announce our 2011 Keynote Speakers, the distinguished Prof David Brenner, Prof Wolfgang Dorr and Dr Joseph Smith.

For the first time, there will be a workshop held on Radon and Radiation Protection in Uranium Mining with Professor David Brenner and invited speaker Mr Russel Robinson (Manager of Environmental Health, Radiation Protection, Department of Health and Families) providing incite and interesting discussions about the important radiation safety and research areas in the mining industry. A Medical Physics workshop is being organised prior to the conference, with dates and subject details to follow in the upcoming months. For young Biomeds, there will be the Annual Development Workshop held by the Clinical Engineering Panel.

Darwin will prove to be a stimulating venue, with breathtaking scenery and wildlife, including Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks.  We look forward to receiving your emails of interest, potential conference sponsorship, and abstracts for oral or poster presentations in the months ahead.

Abstract submissions by the 29th April 2011.

For all information and contact details please see the conference website: http://www.epsmabec2011.org/